Investigative journalist brutally beaten in Russia

New
York, April 5, 2012--Russian authorities must immediately investigate the attack
on journalist Elena Milashina and ensure the perpetrators are brought to
justice. Milashina is a special correspondent for the Moscow-based independent
newspaper Novaya Gazeta as well as a contributor to CPJ.

Two
men attacked Milashina and her friend, Freedom House representative Ella Asoyan,
as they headed to the journalist's home in the Moscow suburb of Balashikha at
around 12:30 a.m. this morning, Milashina wrote in a Facebook post. The
attackers primarily targeted the journalist, repeatedly hitting her on the head, and stopped only when passersby intervened, the post said. The
assailants took Milashina's money and stole Asoyan's laptop, and the journalist
was later examined and diagnosed with a concussion, extensive bruising, and a
broken tooth, Novaya Gazeta Managing
Editor Sergei Sokolov told CPJ.

Milashina
works as an investigative journalist for Novaya
Gazeta and frequently covers human rights violations, particularly in the
dangerous North Caucasus region, as well as attacks and murders of local
journalists. She has also contributed to CPJ, including a report on the lack of
justice in the attack on Kommersant journalist
Oleg Kashin and the murder
of her mentor at Novaya Gazeta, Anna Politkovskaya.

"Russian
authorities must investigate whether Elena Milashina was targeted because she
investigated sensitive subjects, including human rights violations in the North
Caucusus and the murder of her Novaya
Gazeta colleagues," CPJ Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said. "Both
Milashina's work and the brutality of this attack point to the possibility that
this was not a simple robbery. We call on authorities to do everything in their
power to bring the perpetrators to justice."

Milashina
and Asoyan waited an hour for the police to arrive at the scene, but finally
left and went to the journalist's home, Novaya
Gazetareported. Milashina told the newspaper
that she views the robbery with suspicion. "My friend was carrying two
bags," she said. "One contained her laptop computer, the other one--money and
personal papers. At first, they grabbed the bag containing her money, but she
somehow was able to take it back. They did not even attempt to seize it again."

"It
is appalling that police did not promptly respond to Milashina and Asoyan's
call for help," Ognianova said. "We urge authorities to investigate the delayed
police response and take appropriate steps."